Bug tracking plays the most important role in app lifecycle management. Nevertheless, it is not rare for the defect management tool to be wasted by software development and the quality assurance teams. This is because so much of the tool’s potential functionality remains unused. This situation can be overcome by using best bug tracking practices.
Keeping this scenario in mind, we are presenting the list of 5 best practices for bug tracking to follow in 2019.
1. Fix Errors Via Time Allocation in Sprints and Stop Bug Overwhelm
When the development team pushes code into the production and depends on the QA procedures and tests prior to deployment, it could be falling on your clients to detect and report issues that they encounter. According to the independent researches, just one percent of the users actually report the problems.
The best thing to overcome the revenue loss from errors is to have processes in place to detect and responds to the issues prior to the users noticing it. Now you must be thinking about the ways to achieve this.
Rigorous testing should be done prior to the deployment and it is considered one the best possible techniques to maintain the company’s culture for producing best quality code of all time.
Buggy software is when the customer gets poor user experience. Being a tester manager, you are advised to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
Therefore, we should fix errors through proper time allocation in sprints and stop bug overwhelm. This will help us to find errors and resolve them on the spot.
The key takeaway from this point is to keep your code deployable. You can resolve an issue and deploy knowing that other ongoing features and fixes aren’t creeping into a bug fix deployment.
2. In order To Maintain Strong Customer Relationship, Enhance Communication Between Development and The Support Team
Understanding the error management process and the customers who are affected is a significant portion of the error managing process. It is not simple for the developers to repeat issues for the consumers so they can resolve rapidly. Therefore, sometimes errors have a tendency to get lost in the communication.
This scenario holds true for the final changes and fixes. When we alter the code, unintentionally there are more chances of introducing errors, especially when you have strict deadlines. Keeping your entire team viewing the bigger picture assists the development team to communicate with support. As a result, they can get information from the customers effortlessly and quickly.
3. Attain More Contextual Information Regarding Errors For Quicker Fixes
Traditionally, the bugs used to appear on the backlogs of the issue tracker. Therefore, when the tickets get assigned, the error still remains unresolved unless the deeper diagnostic on the issues is discovered.
Attaining complete contextual information on an error is very difficult except if you experience a crash and error reporting software. Majority of the error or crash reporting software will pull very detailed information on the location and damage instigated by issues that slip via the testing process.
4. Prioritize Fixes
Due to the flexible nature of the agile practices, so many last minute and small variations can be introduced into the developer’s workflow.
This generally means two things:
- Common bugs have repeat occurrences
- Bug fixes can become still when high priority tasks are being performed
Unluckily, frequent bugs and minor fixes are still affecting end users. These people are getting poor experience from your app. Prioritizing the bug fixes will assist the test managers to streamline your processes.
5. Implement Automated Testing for Continuous Error Monitoring
Incorporating automated testing procedures facilitates consistent and regular error monitoring in the development lifecycle. Automated tests run regularly and can swiftly detect potential issues before they become critical problems. This continual error monitoring ensures rapid identification and resolution of bugs, maintaining a high-quality standard throughout the software development process.
6. Create Detailed Bug Reports for Improved Bug Resolution
Comprehensive bug reports play a critical role in expediting bug resolution. Including detailed information such as steps to reproduce, expected and actual results, screenshots, and system environment details aids developers in swiftly understanding and fixing reported issues. Well-documented bug reports significantly enhance communication between the QA team and developers, leading to more efficient bug resolution.
7. Implement Regression Testing to Prevent Reoccurrence of Fixed Issues
Regression testing is an essential practice aimed at ensuring that previously resolved issues do not resurface when new changes or updates are introduced. Integrating regression tests into the development process helps in verifying that new features or modifications do not inadvertently reintroduce previously fixed bugs, maintaining a stable and reliable software product.
8. Encourage Collaboration and Transparency in Error Resolution
An open and collaborative environment between development, testing, and support teams can significantly impact error resolution. Encouraging clear and transparent communication ensures that issues are resolved efficiently. It allows for better understanding, quicker resolution, and effective tracking of resolved bugs, enhancing the overall quality of the software product.
Conclusion
Concluding this comprehensive guide to enhanced bug tracking practices, it’s evident that effective defect management is crucial for software development success. By implementing these best practices, teams can substantially improve their bug tracking capabilities, leading to a more streamlined and efficient development process.
The integration of rigorous testing processes, improved communication between teams, utilization of contextual information, and prioritization of bug fixes all contribute to maintaining high-quality software. Moreover, the introduction of automated testing, detailed bug reports, regression testing, and fostering collaborative environments further solidify the foundation for robust and error-free software applications.
Embracing these practices not only leads to faster bug identification and resolution but also prevents errors from reaching end-users, ensuring a superior experience for consumers. By adhering to these proven methods, software development teams can proactively manage bugs, promote stability, and deliver higher-quality products in a more efficient manner.
